Sonata choices in LTCL/LRSM?

[benzenering]

Hey guys.

I'm planning to take LTCL in a year's time and I'm forming my program.

I was really quite bothered by the lack of sonatas which interest me in the LTCL/LRSM repertoire. Tempest comes the closest but for some reason I do not feel like playing it. the rest of the Beethoven Sonatas do not appeal to me and Im not really a mozart or haydn person. I am currently contemplating Mozart's D major K576 though. But I personally would rather play beethoven over Mozart. Romantic/Contemporary Sonatas are also out because I have already learned my Romantic Era piece and I'm pretty unwilling to swap anything out of it.

1) is it alright to actually NOT have a classical sonata in a conventional exam?
2) What if i decide to play something from the FTCL syllabus. I am thinking of Appassionata right now. Has anyone done pieces more advanced for their exams and how did it go? Is it actually okay if I play Appassionata for LTCL?

[chewbacha]

Hi there benzenering! First off, I would think that it would be great if you could explain what LTCL/LRSM actually means to those of us who are clueless!  

Anyways, back on topic. Have you considered the Schubert sonata (The a minor d784 op.143)? Technically it isin't too bad except for the octaves in the third movement and as a whole it's simply gorgeous (though it has a dark background)! However it can be a real pain when trying to find the right tone. It IS Schubert after all!    

According to the music list you CAN play a higher level piece for a lower level exam with the cost of not being able to re-use that piece for that higher exam. I certainly wouldn't put myself into that kind of situation though but if none of the sonatas such as the Schubert appeal to you the I don't see why not! Though it does seem like a really big stretch.

edit: If you do go for the Schubert I highly recommend you listen to Richter, Uchida and Hough's interpretations of this piece! You can also find the scores on IMSLP.

[starstruck5]

Go with your heart -the othe option is to choose a lesser evil -The Tempest is a good exam sonata though IMHO